1997 Ford Taurus complaints

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING SHEARED OFF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE IN THE PROCESS. *AK

L997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. 60K MILES. TREATED WITH KID GLOVES AND HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AT 60K IN THE TRANSMISSION. WITHIN 200 MILES THE TRANS WENT OUT. IF I HADN'T NOTICED LEAKAGE IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE STOPPED WITH A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE HAPPENING AS A RESULT...I.E. HEAVY TRAFFIC, PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ETC. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 1997 TAURUS WAGON.*MR ONE OF THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *NM

RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF GEM MODULE. TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROLS REPLACED. GEM MODULE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE MADE A CLUMPING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE HEARD THE NOISE, BUT COULD NOT TELL FROM WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE CAR WAS PARKED. I STARTED THE CAR, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW OIL LEAKING ABOUT A FOOT FORWARD OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE. *LA

1997 FORD TAURUS. CAR BEGAN ROUGH IDLING AT COLD START. AFTER WARMING UP WOULD RUN FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC TWICE. THEY DID NOT KNOW PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. CAR ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED LOSING ANTI-FREEZE (NOT LEAKING, JUST TURNING UP LOW EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS), EXHAUST FUMES HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST, GAS MILEAGE TERRIBLE. I TOOK TO MY UNCLE, A MECHANIC IN ANOTHER CITY AND HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY. AS I SUSPECTED, HEAD GASKET. WILL COST $800-1000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS MY SECOND FORD. OTHER WAS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. AFTER TWO TRANSMISSIONS AND A CRACKED ENGINE IT DIED TWO YEARS AGO FOR GOOD. I'M A SIGLE MOM AND THIS IS ONLY TRANSPORTATION. CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR YET. BUT IT WILL NOT BE A FORD WHEN I CAN. FORD HAS CHANGED AND IS NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE. FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE SOON HAD ALSO COME ON. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, BOTH AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *SC

I HAVE TWO ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL 19'97 FORD AUTOMOBILES; A TAURUS AND A SABLE. ON THE TAURUS I JUST HAD THE GAS TANK REPLACED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAID AND SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAMS. I NOT ICE NOW A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE SABLE.. BASED ON TWO OUT OF TWO VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH FORD GAS TANKS LEAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FUEL TANK LEAKED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CATCH FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

AIR COMPRESSOR APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS WITH NO REPLACEMENT NEW OR REMAKE . 1997 TAURUS AIR COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED IT IS A SHAME THE FORD MOTOR CO. CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS THE 1997 TAURUS IS A FORD LEMON. FORD MAKE RIGHT YOUR BIG GOOF I AM SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THIS THE 1997 TAURUS WOULD HAVE NO RESALE VALUE. *AK

WHILE PULLING FORWARD BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO BURN HIS HAND, AND THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK

(1) INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO TURNED OFF WHEN BACKING UP OR DURING FORWARD TURN. (2) WHILE DRIVING, SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WITH SEAT BELT FASTENED, THEN POWER STEERING FAILED AND RADIO TURNED OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY (3) VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY FIXED SAME PROBLEM ON 1997 TAURUS BY CHANGING THE PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ,WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK *LA

IN JUNE OF 2003 I BOUGHT MY 1997 FORD TAURUS WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES, FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN SEPT. OF 2003 IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SO I GOT THAT FIXED AND THEN IN OCTOBER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND FOUND OUT THATIT WOULD STILL GO FOWARD. I DROVE IT TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING TIGHTENED AND I COULDN'T TURN. NOW MY CAR DOESN'T RUN AT ALL. IT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED.*AK

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL DISPLAY THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING ICON AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING AND SECURING THE VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR AN INDEFINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CAN CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION FOR A WEEK-AT-A-TIME AND NOT HAVE A RECURRENCE FOR UP TO A MONTH. DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I COULD LOCALIZE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MOTOR FROZE UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SNAP. I HAVE BOUGHT 2 DIFFERENT BELTS AND THE HAVE BOTH SNAPPED IN TWO. THERE IS NO WAY TO BYPASS THIS PROBLEM AND THE PART MUST BE REPLACED IN A SHOP. *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BOLTED BACKWARDS AND STRUCK A BUILDING. *PH THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1997 TAURUS' FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM

THE VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 40 MPH ON A WET ROAD. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IMPACTED A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS THUMB INJURIES WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, AND REQUIRED SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING, JERKED BACKWARD, THEN FORWARD. THIS WAS CAUSED BY INTERNAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PER THE DEALERSHIP. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK *SC

I HAVE ADVISED FORD MOTOR CO OF A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION IDENTICAL TO CONDITION FOUND IN RECALL # 97V-097NSA-111PAW, FORD # 97S75. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SERVO COVER IS CAUSED BY THE COVER BECOMING PERFORATED BY RUST. THIS ON A 1997 FORD TAURUS WHICH HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT DRIVEN IN VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE SALT IS USED DURING WINTER SNOWS. FORD MOTOR CO DECLINED ANY PARTICIPATION BECAUSE MY CAR DOESN'T FALL INTO THE PRODUCTION CATEGORY OF THE RECALL. THE SYMPTOMS AND LEAKING OF OIL AGAINST THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WHEN DRIVING ARE THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. TO THIS END, THE FIRST RUST THROUGH PROBLEM OCCURED WITH THE OIL COOLER LINE WHICH RUSTED OUT PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THE METAL TUBE FROM THE HEATER TO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING FROM RUSTOUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I ASSURE YOU THIS CAR IS NO "RUST BUCKET" I AM A FULLY CERTIFIED (IN ALL SUBJECTS) NIASE MECHANIC AND KNOW WHEREFROM I SPEAK. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE TAURUS MODELS OPERATING IN NEW ENGLAND AND I'M CERTAIN MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE RUST PROBLEMS. THE VIN # [XXX] TRANSMISSION DATA PLATE: [XXX] OIL PAN READS: AXOD METRIC ENGINE: 3.0L DATE OF MANUFACTURE: 8/97. *JB UPDATED 08/03/2012 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

3 DIFFERENT SEAT BELTS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE SEIZED UP -- COMPLETELY FAILED -- IN THE 6 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE SEAT BELTS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ARE THEN NON-FUNCTIONING. WE ARE ABOUT TO REPLACE THAT THIRD BROKEN SEAT BELT.*AK

CLEAR COAT FINISH WAS BUBBLING AND PEALING OFF. *PH 1997 FORD TAURUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BODY PAINT BUBBLING UP AND PEELING OFF. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE RUST THAT WILL DEVELOP ON VEHICLE IN THE SPOTS WHERE THE PAINT IS GONE.*MR

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF...TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REPAIRED AND IS NOW NEEDING REPAIR AGAIN...TIRES FROM NORMAL WEAR...BRAKES FROM NORMAL WEAR...

CRACKED FORWARD PISTON IN TRANS. I HAVE A`97,,,WASN`T THAT PROBLEM FIXED?

TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE,CAM SENSOR & FALSE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT, & MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN

RIGHT REAR WINDOW WON'T ALWAYS CLOSE AFTER OPENING. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING LOW SPEED STARTS THROUGH INTERSECTION OR PARKING LOT. FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, IT SUDDENLY LURCHES CHIRPPING THE TIRES.

F YOU CAN REFERENCE THE "CAR TALK" ARTICLE FROM JULY 2002 IT EXPLAINS MY PROBLEMS TO A "T". NUMEROUS MECHANICS REPLIED TO THE ARTICLE AND "CAR TALK" RELAYED THAT INFO TO ME. MY TAURUS WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW STARTED CUTTING OUT AT TIMES. THEN MY RADIO STARTED CUTTING OUT ONLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THEN WHEN IN REVERSE AND SO ON TILL IT DIDN'T WORK. MY WIPERS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS AT TIMES. ALL THESE WERE MINER TILL MY POWER STEERING STARTED CUTTING OUT. THAT IS THE TIME I SAW THIS ARTICLE AND GOT THE INFO THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING OR ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A TREND. I GOT THE SENSOR REPLACED BY ONE MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HAD MANY FORD CARS ON WHICH HE REPLACED THE SENSORS, ALL THE SAME YEARS- 97-98S. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT REPLACE THE CONNECTOR PIECE AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. I THEN PAID THE BIG BUCKS AND HAD A DEALER REPLACE THE PIECE. THEY, OF COURSE, SAID THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO DO ALL THIS TESTING. I SHOWED THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT I FOUND AND WHAT "CAR TALK" SENT ME. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE GETTING IT REPLACED. I AM INCENSED THAT FORD WOULD NOT RECALL A PIECE THAT ALLOWS YOUR POWER STEERING TO GO OUT. IF A RECALL OCCURS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF IT. I AM OUT 300$.

I AM SENDING A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO VARIOUS NEWS STATIONS AND AGENCIES. IT?S IN REGARD TO A PROBLEM THAT AROSE CONCERNING MY FORD CAR. I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH 1997 FROM SPRINGFIELD FORD IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THE CAR CAME WITH A 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN MARCH OF 2000 I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THREE MORE YEARS AT THE COST OF $1,000. IN JULY 2000, WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. IF I "DIDN'T" PURCHASE THE WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $2,000. WELL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 3-31-03. ON 5-21-03 THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. IT IS GOING TO COST $2,800 TO REPLACE. THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT ALL AGREE THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN. EITHER FORD CO. HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TYPE TAURUS OR THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD H.Q. THEY HADN?T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. AND SPRINGFIELD FORD SAID THERE?S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED WE HAVE BOUGHT THREE CARS IN SIX YEARS FROM THEM, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HOME AND REALLY DON?T HAVE $2,800 LYING AROUND. IF THIS IS THE WAY ONE OF AMERICA?S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, WELL NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING IMPORTED CARS AND FROM NOW ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WILL BE ONE OF THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. IT FIRST WENT OUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR. WE GOT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2001 FROM UGLY DUCKLING CAR SALES NOW KNOWN AS DRIVETIME. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. I THINK IT HAS BEEN IN SOME MAJOR ACCIDENTS....

BOUGHT 97 TAURUS WITH 53,000 MILES IN 03-2001 AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP, WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY [CHRYSLER 24/24]. TOOK IN FOR OIL LEAK 3,000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR WORK WAS SAID TO BE DONE. APPROX. 8,000 MILES AFTER THAT, I TOOK CAR IN AGAIN FOR OIL LEAK AND POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAK. AGAIN GASKET REPAIRS WERE SUPPOSSEDLY DONE; NO REPORT OR REPAIR ON SUSPECTED COOLANT LEAK. APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES AFTER THAT, CAR BREAKS DOWN ON FWY; WILL NOT CRANK/TURN OVER. HAD CAR TOWED TO SAME DEALERSHIP; REPORTED FINDINGS WERE: NO COOLANT IN RADIATOR, COOLANT IN OIL BASKET, NO COMPRESSION. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO BREAK DOWN. THEY SAY THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS AREN'T RELATED TO PRESENT PROBLEM. I FEEL THE REPAIR WORK EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS INCOMPLETE, OVERLOOKED, OR MIS DIAGNOSED.

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHEN I TURN RIGHT AT TIMES. I HAVEN?T HAD IT FIXED YET. SOMETIMES MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WON?T ROLL DOWN. IT HASN?T BEEN FIXED. THE CAR WOULDN?T GO FORWARD WHEN YOU HAD TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED. THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON HAD TO BE CHANGED. I COULDN?T DRIVE IT FURTHER AS IT WOULDN?T GO FORWARD AFTER I STOPPED.

LTR FM M.L. MOODY (TX) RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION . *MR THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH HAD INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MECHANICAL ERROR. *SCC *JB

DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS. REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *PH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FOUR INCIDENTS OF STEERING LOCK UP. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND MAKE LOUD NOISE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LEAVING HER IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. BY JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN INTO DRIVE. THIS HAD BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1991-1998 MODELS. FORD WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WIRES ARCHED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH

THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING IN LAYERS FROM THE FRAME OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE IS TSB 00203 CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. POLICE INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS IN PLACE WHICH ENABLES THE PASSENGER TO PULL IT OUT. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

FIRESTONE P205/65R15 PEELED AND SHREDDED ON THE REAR OF MY 1997 FORD, TAURUS AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF CAR.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM.*MR FIVE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE HEATER BECAME DEFECTIVE. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR CONSUMER ABSORBED NOT COST. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES OVER THE PAST YEARS. THE EPISODE BECAME MORE UNSAFE AND EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. ON JULY 26,2003 THE DEFECTIVE RADIATOR SPRUNG A LEAK. CONSUMER STATED FORD SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A BIG DISCOUNT PRICE IN 1999. *PH *NLM

FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF SWITCHES OFF BY ITSELF FOR UNKNOWN REASON WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *AK

HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING HEADLIGHT PLUG MELTS FROM OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT IS LOST CAUSING LIGHTS TO GO OUT

REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR REPAIRS PERFORMED ON DEFECTIVE RADIATOR. *MR THERE WAS ONE FRONT TIRE SEPARATION WITH A KNOT, AND THE RADIATOR WAS INOPERATIVE. (BRIDGESTONE WEATHERIZER) *SCC *JB

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT TURN OFF WITH BRAKE OR OFF BUTTON. ENGINE CONTINUES TO TRY TO MAKE THE CAR GO 65 MPH WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE. HAVE NOT USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. *JB

THE TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK THE DEALER FOUND BOTH FUSES PULLED AND FLASHERS DISCONNECTED. *SCC *JB

19'97 TAURUS, LIKE MANY OF THE FORD & OTHER PRODUCT LINES, HAVE THE GAS FILLER PIPE ON THE STARBOARD SIDE. WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE TO SELF-SERVE, THIS ?!@#$% ARRANGEMENT GENERATES CONFUSION IN BUSY SERVICE STATIONS LEADING TO A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR FUEL SPILLS AND FIRES. ALL CARS, EVEN IF THEY THINK THE EUROPEAN LOCATION IS "CUTE" SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE FUEL FILL PIPE LOCATION ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. REDUCE CONFUSION. INCREASE SAFETY. *AK